May our enemies be struck by lightning

Lo and behold! And it came to pass that Hong Kong's top churchman Paul Kwong threw off his normally mild-mannered persona and angrily scolded Western politicians who have sanctioned or criticized our community.

"These actions hurt Hong Kong," the archbishop of this city thundered in a letter to the influential Church Times.

Further, their actions "support those who have supported or committed acts of violence."

Interestingly, he reveals that in Hong Kong, "most religious leaders have NOT taken a position of opposition to the National Security Law."

I hope the archbishop will ask his boss, the Celestial Taipan, to strike Donald Trump and Boris Johnson with a bit of lightning - that would show 'em.

* * *

What CNN recently headlined: a case of bubonic plague was found in China! Ewww!

What CNN failed to mention: cases of bubonic plague are found every year in the US, with more than 100 since 2000.

Not that CNN reporters are biased against China or anything.

* * *

After several virus cases involving Hong Kong taxis, the remaining drivers are enjoying an extra bonus, I hear.

Nervous passengers are now handing over the cash and saying: "Keep the change."

Reminder: don't get into a taxi with a pocketful of HK$500 notes.

* * *

Reader Semirah Darwin saw this delicious dish (its English name sounds more dramatic than its Chinese one) advertised in Causeway Bay.

"I'm feeling rich today so I'm going to have a big, affluent prawn," she said.

* * *

The billion-dollar bet against the Hong Kong dollar peg by "vampire investor" Kyle Bass is going soooo badly, with our currency rising instead of falling.

This is despite the fact that he continually badmouths Hong Kong.

Joan Poh said: "Well, now you know why Kyle Bass was so keen to push the 'Hong Kong gonna die' narrative."

Financiers said Bass's strategy may be all wrong. The peg may not be keeping the Hong Kong dollar up - it may be keeping it down.

"His thesis isn't even right," said Jason Sun. "The peg is basically the only thing keeping the Hong Kong dollar from appreciating against the US dollar."

* * *

Reader Dave McNamara pointed out the irony of his country's latest travel advisories for this region, which can be summarized thus:

AUSTRALIA: our citizens should NOT go to Hong Kong as they may be taken over the border to mainland China.

ALSO AUSTRALIA: our citizens are free to go to other places, such as mainland China.

* * *

Some folks are speculating that Beijing's security office was located in the Metropark Hotel in Tin Hau so they can spy on protesters in Victoria Park.

But that makes no sense. Rallies are open to all. Spies can just join in.

More likely is the fact that Chinese state organizations own the hotel.

And the word on the street says that Chinese officials in the intelligence division weren't comfortable at the Tamar site - which used to belong to the devious British, who would surely have left bugs in place.

* * *

A popular Twitter voice who calls himself the Hubei Bandit mused yesterday: "I still occasionally laugh when I remember that the National Security Law came because the Hong Kong protest movement didn't want the Extradition Bill."

It's like saying, "No, thanks" to someone offering you a goldfish and them replying: "Okay, well, have this blue whale instead."

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